SANFORD — Old televisions, old computers, old printers, old microwave ovens. They clutter our home offices and closets. They’re just there, taking up space and gathering dust.

On Saturday June 9, you can dispose of those items and others — free — when Catholic Charities Maine hosts their annual E-Waste Disposal Day on the grounds of St. Thomas School in Sanford.

Organizers will be collecting televisions, computers, printers, microwaves, VCRs, and leftover parts from other electronics.

Last year, at similar events, Catholic Charities Maine collected over 100,000 pounds of e-waste statewide, said Dave Guthro of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

Bill Wood of Catholic Charities Maine said that those concerned about the personal information stored on the hard drives in their old computers need not worry.

“All hard drives are destroyed in the process of recycling the computer parts, so there is no possibility of that information being accessed by someone else,” Wood said.in a statement released by the diocese. “All the collected items are recycled for the precious metals they contain, the wiring, the glass, and the regular metals.”

The monetary value of e-waste can vary widely, depending on national and international markets.

“Catholic Charities Maine partners with North Coast Services to produce these e-waste days as part of our Eco-Joy environmental program,” Wood said. “We like the fact that none of what is ‘donated’ at these events will end up in a landfill.”

According to the Electronics Take Back Coalition, a group that promotes green design and responsible recycling in the electronics industry, U.S. consumers disposed of 2.4 million tons of e-waste in 2010, about 27 percent of which was recycled.

St. Thomas School is located at 69 North Ave. at the corner of North Avenue and Cottage Street. The e-waste event is 8 a.m. to noon.

Later this summer, on August 18, a similar event will be held on the grounds of St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road (Route 1), Kennebunk, also 8 a.m. to noon.

For more information about the e-waste days, contact Bill Wood at (207) 956-1457

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.